Myalgic Encephalomyelitis / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME-CFS): good practice statement

2. Purpose

The purpose of this Scottish Good Practice Statement is to provide general practitioners with guidance that can be used to assist with the differential diagnosis and clinical management of patients with ME-CFS. It contains more detailed information and underpins two other summary documents, prepared at the same time: a Quick Reference Clinical Guide and a Patient Guide. This Good Practice Statement is also primarily about the Care of Adults with ME-CFS, but in the absence as yet of a separate Good Practice Statement on Children with ME-CFS, interim guidance on the management of children and young people with ME-CFS is offered in Section 5. Further interim guidance on those severely affected, is offered in Section 6. Research and development issues are considered in Section 7. Further advice for patient support and sources of further assistance are provided in Section 8 and Appendix 1.

It is hoped that these documents will be the first of a series which will inform health professionals on the management of ME-CFS.

These documents are primarily based on the synthesis of best available current evidence, using recognised appraisal methods for developing clinical guidelines. In keeping with recent SIGN developments, due weight must also be given to people's experience of living with ME-CFS. As such, they are living documents and will be subject to periodic review as research is published which will influence clinical practice.

The guidance provided should not be regarded as prescriptive; such general advice will always need to be modified in line with the needs of any individual patient.

In parallel with the development of this Statement, the Scottish Public Health Network has undertaken a Health Care Needs Assessment of Services for people living with ME-CFS, which will help inform the NHS in Scotland on future service design and service provision.